NASA Faces Challenges in Opening Container of Asteroid Bennu Dirt
NASA is currently encountering obstacles in its mission to open the container of dirt collected from asteroid Bennu, which was successfully delivered to Earth in September after a remarkable seven-year journey. The container, known as TAGSAM, must be carefully opened within a specialized glovebox to ensure that Earth contamination does not compromise the integrity of the sample, allowing scientists to conduct pristine studies.
Sealed with 35 fasteners, the TAGSAM head carefully collected the dirt from the surface of asteroid Bennu. Unfortunately, two of these fasteners cannot be removed using the currently approved tools that are allowed for use within the glovebox. Opening the container outside of the glovebox would expose the sample to significant contamination, making it crucial for alternative methods to be devised to extract the material while preserving cleanliness standards.
Despite these challenges, the container has yielded positive results. Material collected from outside of the TAGSAM has already amounted to an impressive 70.3 grams (2.48 ounces) of asteroid Bennu material. Furthermore, there are high hopes that the container holds even more dirt, estimated to be up to 250 grams (8.8 ounces), which could provide exciting scientific opportunities once it can be fully opened and studied.
While the science team at NASA works diligently to find a solution to the dilemma, it is expected to take a few weeks before the container can be opened. In the meantime, the TAGSAM has been carefully sealed back into the transfer container, ensuring its cleanliness is maintained through the use of an O-ring and a teflon bag filled with nitrogen.
This milestone marks a significant achievement for NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which was launched back in 2016. As anticipation grows, scientists eagerly prepare to study the 70.3 grams of asteroid material already obtained, seeking new insights into the mysteries of our universe.
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